INFLUENCE OF KNOWLEDGE ON PREGNANT WOMEN ATTITUDE TOWARDS MALARIA PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN NORTH-EAST ZONE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Influence, knowledge, attitude, malaria, prevention, strategies, pregnant women.Abstract
This study investigated the influence of knowledge on pregnant women attitude towards malaria
prevention strategies in North-east zone, Nigeria, using ex-post facto research design. Multistage
sampling technique consisting of simple random, stratified, proportionate and systematic sampling
techniques were used to draw a sample from a population of 503,661 antenatal care (ANC) registered
pregnant women from six (6) states in North-east zone, Nigeria. Thus, a total of 1,200 pregnant women
attending ANC formed the respondents. The instrument for data collection was a researcher-developed
validated close-ended questionnaire. The instrument was tested using Cronbach Alpha and a reliability
index of 0.80 was obtained from the pilot study result. The data collected was analysed using
International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. The
descriptive statistics of mean scores and standard deviations were used to answer the research question.
Inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) was used to test
formulated null hypothesis. The finding of the study revealed that; pregnant women in North-East zone
have positive attitude towards malaria prevention strategies (p=0.000; p < 0.05). The conclusion drawn
was that the pregnant women have positive attitude to the adoption and use of malaria prevention
strategies. Based on conclusion, it was recommended that, public enlightenment campaigns concerning
malaria prevention strategies should be intensified to increase the awareness and positive attitude of
malaria prevention among the non-ANC registered pregnant women.